Employee voice helps relieve job insecurity

Employees are more content with their lot and less worried about job losses when they are given some say in the decision-making process at work.

According to the report 'Fear at Work in Britain' and the associated Skills and Employment survey from the Institute of Education, UK employees are feeling more insecure and pressured at work than at any time in the last 20 years.

More than half of the 3,200 workers surveyed said they were concerned about loss of job status, pay reductions and loss of say over their job. Along with people working harder - doing things more quickly to tighter deadlines - job stress has gone up and job-related wellbeing has gone down.

Public sector workers, who have traditionally felt more secure in their jobs than their private sector counterparts, are now more likely to be concerned about losing their jobs. They also have greater fears about loss of status if they keep their job - such as deskilling, pay cuts, being given less interesting work and having less say.

The report said that attention needs to be paid to improving employee relations in the public sector. Evidence suggested that bolstering employee voice could ameliorate fear at work. Employers, it said, should try to develop policies to enhance employee involvement at times of organisational change.